Key Events

Update on Salford incident

The fire service has just confirmed it was called to reports of a gas leak in a house in Littleton Road, Salford, at just befpre 6pm, but no gas leak was found. Police and paramedics also attended the incident in which one resident was said to be feeling unwell.

18:57

Incident in Salford

We’re just getting reports of an incident in Littleton Road, Salford. Early indications suggest it is a gas leak.

We’ll have more shortly

18:48

We're hoping and praying the 'concept' is 'clothes'

French Connection is returning to Manchester city centre to open a new ‘concept store’ inside the Royal Exchange building.

The high street fashion retailer says the shop will be the first of its kind in the UK, with an entirely new look and feel featuring ‘forward thinking technology’.

Broken down car blocking M60 lane

Police searching scene after firework set off near cafe in Salford

Police are scouring the scene of a late-night explosion which could be heard across Greater Manchester

An industrial strength firework was set off outside a cafe in Salford causing a loud bang which was heard as far away as Didsbury.

11:57

Oxford Road reopened

Oxford Road has now reopened after it was closed while a tree was chopped down earlier

11:34

Minor delays on the Bury line

There are currently minor delays on the Bury line following an earlier incident at Queens Road

10:25

Buses diverted due to road closure

Buses are now being diverted due to the road closure...

10:20KEY EVENT

Part of Oxford Road closed due to 'tree being cut down'

I just spoke to a GMP spokeswoman who said the reason part of Oxford Road is closed is due to a tree being cut down

It is unclear when the road, which is closed in both directions between Grafton St and Dover St, will reopen.

10:17

Oxford Road closed due to 'police incident'

More to follow....

10:13

Sir Peter Hall dies

Sir Peter Hall, the former director of the National Theatre has died aged 86, the theatre said.

09:47

Delays on Ashton line

There are currently delays on the Ashton line and Eccles line due to heavy traffic from Ashton towards Eccles

09:26

Take That make surprise appearance on stage at their new musical The Band in Manchester

Take That fans screamed with delight as their music idols made a surprise appearance on stage at the finale of their new musical in Manchester

Mark Owen, Gary Barlow and Howard Donald performed some of their biggest hits as a sold-out audience at the Opera House gave the stars of their show, The Band, a standing ovation on Monday night.

The musical stars the boyband Five to Five, who were found through BBC talent show Let It Shine, and tells the emotional story of a group of 16-year-old girls whose beloved boyband soundtracks their lives.

Minor delays on the East Didsbury line

News headlines

Labour’s divisions on Europe were left exposed after a mini-rebellion in a series of votes on the Government’s flagship Brexit Bill

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is to fly to the Caribbean to visit the British territories devastated by Hurricane Irma

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said Mr Johnson will spend “the coming days” there to see the UK’s relief effort first-hand.It is understood he will visit the British Virgin Islands and Anguilla.

08:38

M602 delays now clear....

Good news :)

08:07

Delays following M56 vehicle fire now cleared...

07:35

Traffic round-up

A vehicle fire is causing delays at the point where the M56 joins the M60 near Wythenshawe. The westbound exit slip-road of the M56 at junction 2 for Sharston remains closed following the early morning blaze. It is not expected to reopen until 9.30am, which could cause delays for commuters heading out of Manchester this morning.

One lane is currently closed on the M6 Northbound following an oil spillage and accident involving three vehicles at Junction 21 for Woolston. There’s congestion to the junction 20 for Lymm Interchange.

Parts of the UK could be battered by more strong winds and torrential downpours on Tuesday

06:56

Morning Manchester!

Welcome to the breaking news blog

(Image: ASP)

We’ll be making sure that you are the first to know what’s happening across the Greater Manchester region.

Throughout the day we will be bringing you constant updates on news across the area.

We’ll also be bringing you crime, travel, health, sport, politics and education stories from the M.E.N team.

And the CityLife journalists are working hard to bring you the best reviews, celebrity gossip and information on going out in the city.

Here’s a round up of some of the major stories this morning...

A loud bang was heard across Greater Manchester last night after an industrial firework was set off outside a cafe.

Police and the fire service were inundated with calls after the explosion, near the junction of Gerald Road and Whit Lane in Salford, shortly before 12.30am on Tuesday morning.

A backpacker who went missing in the Italian Alps last week has been found dead.

It is understood that 23-year-old Keaton Emery had set off to hike through the mountains near Lake Como, where he was doing volunteer work at a sailing school, on Thursday, September 7.

The alarm was raised when he did not return, and according to local press reports his body was recovered from a crag at the bottom of a 60ft drop close to the summit of the 1,700 metre high Legnoncino mountain by search and rescue teams on Sunday.